Broadhead Test 2013: Fixed Blades Vs. Hemorrhage Bags

The hemorrhage test was a new addition to BOWHUNTING’s broadhead-testing program in 2013. We’ve tested broadheads against sheet metal and concrete, but we wanted to add a new component. As the name implies, this test was created to simulate the ability of a broadhead’s entry and exit wounds to evacuate blood from a body cavity.

In the hemorrhage test, we sealed two gallons of water (dyed red to represent blood) in thick, plastic bags. We then hung the bags on our test frame, using a reference mark to ensure the exact same positioning for every shot. We also drew a reference line in the same place on each bag, indicating the “stop point” for measuring elapsed time for drainage. And to ensure that each broadhead impacted its test bag in exactly the same spot, we fired the shots from a TenPoint crossbow that was secured in a Caldwell lead sled at point-blank range.

We started our stopwatch the instant the shot was fired and measured the amount of time it took each broadhead to drain the bag to the reference line. As you can see from the results, the best heads in our test drained the bag more than twice as fast than the worst performers.

Of course, there are a number of variables that will determine how heavy the blood trail will be in an actual hunting situation. Among them are shot angle, shot placement and orientation of the broadhead upon impact. And of course, in the real world there are times when your arrow will lodge inside an animal, leaving you without the benefit of an exit wound.

All things being equal, however, the results of our Hemorrhage Test suggest that the shape and size of your broadhead’s cutting blades play a significant role in determining just how much blood you will find on the ground.

Results:

Fulton Ramcat – 8.4 seconds

Slick Trick Viper Trick – 9.1

QAD Exodus – 10.8

Flying Arrow Toxic – 11.2

G5 Striker – 12

Clean-Shot Spot-On Hollow Point – 14.6

NAP Thunderhead Razor – 14.7

Trophy Taker Terminal T-Lock – 15.1

Muzzy Trocar – 15.7

Wasp Boss – 16.9

Rocket Ultimate Steel – 17.3

Innerloc Falcon – 18.1

Solid S30V – 20.6

Carbon Express XT 4-Blade – 31.5

GALLERY: Fixed Blades Vs. Hemorrhage Bag

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<h2>Carbon Express XT 4-Blade</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551346778001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551346778001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
<a href="http://www.carbonexpressarrows.com/" target="_blank">The Carbon Express</a> XT 4-Blade is one of two heads in this year’s test with two primary blades and two bleeder blades. The backs of the primary and bleeder blades are sharpened so they cause additional damage if they stop inside the animal and start to back out. This head proved strong in our hard-impact and zero-penetration tests, as it only suffered a broken tip while passing through the sheet metal and embedded into the construction block in one piece. Below-average penetration and a slow hemorrhage time were noted. Accuracy was superior, as testing found the maximum deviation from a fieldpoint was an impressive quarter inch.
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<strong>Price: $</strong>27.99 (per 3)

<h2>Carbon Express XT 4-Blade</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551346778001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551346778001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
<a href="http://www.carbonexpressarrows.com/" target="_blank">The Carbon Express</a> XT 4-Blade is one of two heads in this year’s test with two primary blades and two bleeder blades. The backs of the primary and bleeder blades are sharpened so they cause additional damage if they stop inside the animal and start to back out. This head proved strong in our hard-impact and zero-penetration tests, as it only suffered a broken tip while passing through the sheet metal and embedded into the construction block in one piece. Below-average penetration and a slow hemorrhage time were noted. Accuracy was superior, as testing found the maximum deviation from a fieldpoint was an impressive quarter inch.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>27.99 (per 3)

<h2>Fulton Ramcat</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551346774001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551346774001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
The 3-blade <a href="http://www.smokebroadheads.com/" target="_blank">Fulton Ramcat</a> featured the widest cutting diameter of the bunch and had a total cutting potential second only to the 6-blade Toxic. It emptied our hemorrhage bag faster than any other head and actually had the best penetration in our foam-only test. However, penetration fell off the pace in our combo-material test. The Ramcat was fairly accurate relative to a fieldpoint, and while it suffered significant damage in the hard-impact test, it was largely unharmed in the zero-penetration test.
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<strong>Price: $</strong>38.99 (per 3)

<h2>Flying Arrow Toxic</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551346776001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551346776001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
The all-new <a href="http://flyingarrowmontana.com/#!/splash-page" target="_blank">Flying Arrow Toxic</a> from Chris Rager (former owner of Trophy Ridge and Rocket Aeroheads) is intriguing, to say the least. It has a unique, “coring” design featuring six curved blades that punch a very large, cloverleaf-shaped hole in whatever they penetrate. The Toxic received high marks in the hemorrhage test, with an evacuation time of only 11.2 seconds. The Toxic also flew extremely well, with only the slightest variance from a fieldpoint.
<p>
Although the measurements were very difficult to validate due to the curved shape of the blades, we gave the Toxic a huge total cutting potential of 3.06 inches—by far the most cutting surface of any head in the test. All those blades kept the Toxic from penetrating as well as smaller-profile heads, but with an entry hole that big, perhaps that’s a moot point. The Toxic also sustained significant damage in our zero-penetration test.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>44.99 (per 3)

<h2>G5 Striker</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551316009001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551316009001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
Super-sharp blades and an average total cutting potential helped the <a href="http://www.g5outdoors.com/" target="_blank">G5 Striker</a> perform well in the hemorrhage and penetration tests. Throw in some adversity in the form of the combo-material penetration test and the Striker did even better. It also performed well in our durability tests. The head suffered only slight blade marring after passing through sheet metal, and when we shot it into the limestone construction block, it buried itself so deep we couldn’t pull it out! In accuracy testing, the Striker hit the target .75 inches high and .33 inches right of center compared to a fieldpoint at 25 yards.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>42.99 (per 3)

<h2>Innerloc Falcon</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551316007001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551316007001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
The <a href="http://www.innerloc.com/Pages/bat-tech2.htm" target="_blank">Innerloc Falcon</a> proved to be accurate, with only a small variance compared to a fieldpoint. The head has average sharpness and one of the smallest profiles (total cutting potential 1.487 inches) in the test. Hemorrhage testing followed those numbers, with a below-average evacuation time of 18.1 seconds. However, the small profile aided the Falcon in penetration, as it ranked second in the foam-only target and jumped to No. 1 in the combo-material target. The Falcon also more than held its ground in durability testing, with only slight tip rolling and minimal blade marring.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>38.99 (per 3)

<h2>Muzzy Trocar</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551346771001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551346771001&playerID=2581183633001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMscf_FbmxoZr2oUR0SE907l&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
<a href="http://www.muzzy.com/" target="_blank">Muzzy’s all-new Trocar</a> took the top spot in sharpness, with a number close to our reference razor blade. It also has one of the larger cutting diameters of the group and a better than average total cutting potential. Blade marring was the only noted damage in the metal and block tests, making it one of the most durable heads we tested. The Trocar scored in the top third of the class in foam-only penetration tests and ran in the middle of the pack in the combo-material penetration test. On the downside, the Trocar’s accuracy was not among the top heads tested, and it scored a modest 15.7 seconds in the hemorrhage test.
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<strong>Price: $</strong>29.95 (per 3)

<h2>NAP Thunderhead Razor</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551274438001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551274438001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
Accuracy was a highlight for <a href="http://www.newarchery.com/" target="_blank">NAP</a>, as it impacted the target only a tenth of an inch right of the fieldpoint. The Thunderhead Razor was also in the top half for sharpness and had an average hemorrhage test, which followed its middle-of-the-road cutting diameter and total cutting potential. It fell off the pace in penetration but proved extremely tough against our sheet metal and construction block durability tests.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>34.99 (per 3)

<h2>Solid S30V</h2><object id="flashObj" width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=2551274435001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=2551274435001&playerID=2591485078001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETeEfI~,i-5J2ubuAMuSFp1jGeEL-PYCQ71-usN9&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>
This head has two primary blades and two smaller bleeder blades. In one of the highlights of the test, the <a href="http://solid-broadheads.com/" target="_blank">Solid S30V</a> hit the exact same hole in the exact same rotation on three out of three shots in our fieldpoint comparison test. Although it hit the target 1.2 inches left and 1 inch high compared to the fieldpoint, it was incredibly consistent. This head also performed well in the hard-impact test, with only slight damage. The S30V had below-average results in the block, penetration and hemorrhage tests.
<p>
<strong>Price: $</strong>79.99 (per 3)